Women's Golf

WOMEN'S GOLF BEGINS SEASON AT WSU COUGAR CUP

Sep 23, 2013

PULLMAN, Wash. — The Sacramento State women's golf team began its 2013-14 season at the WSU Cougar Cup on Monday at Palouse Ridge Golf Club.

The Hornets started strong with a first round 305 but struggled in the afternoon, shooting 323 and are tied for seventh place out of 12 teams. Host Washington State leads by six strokes over Gonzaga. The Cougars shot 297-291-588 compared to 304-290-594 for the Bulldogs. BYU (601), Santa Clara (608) and Idaho (312) completed the top five heading into Tuesday's final round.

"I knew we could shoot 305 because that's what we've been doing in practice," Sacramento State Director of Golf David Sutherland said. "In the second round, the wind picked up and it got cold but that's not an excuse. We simply did not execute our game plan and have to be better tomorrow."

Junior Sagee Palavivatana is tied for 32nd after shooting 75-82-157 to lead the team. Palavivatana opened her day on the 13th hole with a bogey but returned to even after a birdie on the par-3 16th. She then bogeyed four of her next 10 holes before a birdie on the par-5 10th left her at 3-over. In the second round, Palavivatana fought eight bogeys and two double bogeys over her first 15 holes. She was able to end strongly, however, with birdies on the pat-5 10th and par-4 12th.

Tiffany Nichols is one stroke behind Palavivatana and is tied for 34th. Nichols' first round was highlighted by a birdie on No. 10 and also featured 12 pars and five bogeys. Her second round included nine pars, eight bogeys and a double bogey.

Lisa Persson overcame an 83 in the first round which did not count towards the team total to shoot a team-leading 76 in the afternoon. Persson started with a birdie, nine pars, four bogeys and four double bogeys in the morning round. She was much more consistent in the afternoon with 14 pars and only four bogeys. Her 36-hole total of 159 ties her for 38th.

Nicolette Bondura had nearly opposite rounds to Persson. The junior shot a career best 76 in the opening round before posting an 85 in the afternoon. Bondura began on the 11th but stood at 3-over after a double-bogey on the par-3 16th. Her big move came on the 18th where she eagled the par-5 491-yard hole. She closed her round with three bogeys over her final 10 holes. In the second round, Bondura had a birdie, nine pars, three bogeys and four double bogeys and a triple bogey.

Freshman Chloe Bartek matched Bondura's two-round total of 161 and the pair are tied for 44th place. Bartek shot 78 in her first collegiate round with one birdie, 10 pars and seven bogeys. In the second round, she had a birdie, five pars and 12 bogeys.

Sacramento State was also represented by Rockelle Sande who was competing as an individual in the field. Sande shot 81-83-164 and is tied for 52nd.